Lassa fever death toll hit 215 in 2025, fatality rate exceeds 2024 level – NCDC

Nigeria recorded 215 deaths from Lassa fever in 2025, with the disease’s case fatality rate rising to 18.7 percent, higher than the 16.3 percent recorded during the same period in 2024, according to the latest Situation Report released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

The report shows that confirmed cases increased from 21 in Epidemiological Week 51 to 27 in Week 52, covering the period from December 22 to 28, 2025. 

The new infections were reported in Ondo, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Nasarawa and Taraba States.

Cumulatively, Nigeria recorded 1,148 confirmed Lassa fever cases by the end of Week 52 in 2025, with infections reported across 22 states and 107 Local Government Areas, reflecting the continued nationwide spread of the viral haemorrhagic disease.

Despite the increase in cases during the final week of the year, the NCDC noted that the overall number of suspected and confirmed cases in 2025 was lower than what was recorded during the same period in 2024, indicating gradual improvements in surveillance, early detection and response.

The report revealed that 89 percent of all confirmed cases in 2025 were concentrated in four States — Ondo, Bauchi, Edo and Taraba. 

Ondo State accounted for 35 percent of confirmed cases, Bauchi 26 percent, Edo 16 percent and Taraba 12 percent, while the remaining 11 percent were reported across 17 other states.

Young adults aged 21 to 30 years were the most affected group, with reported cases ranging from infants aged one year to elderly persons aged 96 years. 

The median age of confirmed cases was 30 years, and the male-to-female ratio stood at 1 to 0.8.

The NCDC also confirmed that no healthcare worker was infected during Epidemiological Week 52, underscoring improved infection prevention and control practices in health facilities.

The agency said the National Lassa Fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Technical Working Group continues to coordinate response activities nationwide, covering surveillance, case management, risk communication and logistics support.

It stated that Lassa fever response efforts were intensified across the country ahead of the new outbreak season, including the conduct of a dynamic risk assessment and a webinar on the application of the Lassa fever advocacy toolkit.

According to the agency, behavioural assessments were conducted in 10 high-burden states, alongside community-based One Health planning, After Action Reviews for the 2024/2025 outbreak season, and strategic capacity development sessions.

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It added that health facility preparedness was strengthened through infection prevention and control training, hand hygiene audits, clinician sensitisation in hotspot local government areas, and the launch of the NCDC’s IPC e-learning platform.

The agency noted that national and subnational partners supported vaccine development planning, clinical trials in Ondo State, as well as multiple fellowship and clinical management training programmes.

It further disclosed that Rapid Response Teams were deployed to affected states, while essential commodities including personal protective equipment, Ribavirin and information, education and communication materials were distributed.

The agency said these efforts were complemented by enhanced risk communication through jingles, targeted messaging, and the integration of Lassa fever messages into broader viral haemorrhagic fever strategies, alongside sustained regional and international collaboration across ECOWAS countries.